After many months of reading, researching, writing, and thinking about who I am as an artist, what inspires me, and what I want to pursue, I have finally arrived at some beneficial conclusions to support my emerging practice as a fine art jeweler.
For some time it has been clear to me that my childhood experiences in Japan had a significant impact on my aesthetic development. I’ve enhanced those aesthetic impulses by solid grounding in research on wabi sabi aesthetics and Zen philosophy.
By now you may have guessed that I have a slight obsession with jewelry (of course), fashion design, France, and Jane Austen literature, (her novels are wonderfully nuanced–the frilly movie adaptations? Not so much).
All of these things lend themselves to my pursuit of a name for a new jewelry collection
that is inspired by the textures of the urban landscape. You see, I am in love with Seattle–it is for me what New York is to Carrie Bradshaw. (Spoiler alert: if you click on the Carrie Bradshaw link, you will Not Be Amused by the hints about the new SATC movie. Not Amused.) That is to say, the city of Seattle is a major character in the Story of Me. I have been, for a long time, fascinated with the way surfaces crumble and decay: the rust or verdigris on metal, the crumbling concrete, random grid patterns–the whole schmiel.
So, I’ve been thinking of a name for this city-inspired collection and my Muse (who is hilarious and who always know the right approach to inspire me) suggested Read the rest of this entry »
